Abang Jo grateful for people's trust, promises to fully deliver on GPS election manifesto

SIBU: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government will keep all the promises made to the people in its 34-article manifesto for the 12th state election.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg (pic) said in his Christmas message on Friday (Dec 24) that he believed that with the strong support of the people, GPS would be able to follow through on its election pledges.

"As the head of the GPS Government, I bear a very heavy responsibility to fulfil the promises in the 34-article manifesto. It covers many matters including the autonomy and rights of Sarawak, infrastructure development, economic development, welfare and security of the people and sociocultural development," he said.

Abang Johari also expressed his gratitude to the people of Sarawak for placing their trust in GPS to continue administering and developing the state as outlined in the Sarawak Strategic Development Plan 2030 Post Covid-19, or PCDS 2030, for five more years.

"I would also like to thank all parties, especially the Election Commission, the entire election machinery and the security forces who worked hard to ensure that (the state election) ran smoothly and safely for all," he said.

In the Dec 18 election, GPS won 76 of the 82 state assembly seats.

Separately, Abang Johari said the state recorded a success when the Dewan Rakyat recently approved the amendment to the Federal Constitution related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) as proposed by Sarawak which gives equal rights to Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah as the three parties that established Malaysia, and thus recognising MA63 in the Constitution.

"Several successes have been achieved previously to restore Sarawak’s eroded rights under the Constitution and MA63 including the power to impose sales tax on petroleum products or SST and also the recognition of Sarawak’s powers under the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958," he noted.

Abang Johari said negotiations with the Federal Government will continue to restore other eroded rights and implement other matters as contained in MA63 including Sarawak's representative on the Inland Revenue Board.

For the Christmas celebration, he called on the people to abide by the Covid-19 standard operating procedures set by the state disaster management committee although the daily infection rate in Sarawak has dropped to double digits.